Chapter 20

"What are you doing here?" Will demanded when he heard his brother's voice. He dumped the rest of the grain to the last horse and set the bucket on the ground. Turning to face his younger brother again, he crossed his arms over his chest, and waited.

George Darcy laughed at his brother and pushed himself off the doorframe. Walking forward, he stood toe to toe to his older brother and met his icy blue stare. He could feel the anger start to show on his brother's face and he let out another laugh. Rocking back on his heels, he asked, "Why are you so angry Will?"

Will clenched his fists at his brother's words. "You know exactly why I am angry with you George." He growled through clenched teeth. He was holding back from punching his brother in the face.

George grinned and stepped back. "I never did like Gina's husband. You were best friends with him and then he became part of the family. I knew I wouldn't be able to continue doing what I was doing with him as a brother and the sheriff. When he came after me that day, it was the chance I had been waiting for."

He rushed forward in a fit of rage and grabbed George by the front of his shirt. Lifting him in the air, Will threw him up against the barn wall. Holding him in the air, he asked, "Why didn't you just let him bring you in? He would still be alive if it wasn't for you."

"I wasn't going to let him or anyone else put me behind bars. There is too much at stake with what I have planned in the next few days." George said and he could still see that his brother was not going to let him go. "It won't bring Gina back."

At the mention of their sister's name, Will let go of his brother's shirt and watched him sink to the ground. Taking a step back, he asked the question again. "Why are you here George?"

Looking up at his older brother, George gave his brother another grin. "I wanted to come and see my brother, but it seems that you don't want to see me. Are you going to introduce me to your lovely wife? I never thought I would see the day when my older brother would find a woman who loves him." He rubbed his neck and rolled his shoulders.

Will's anger rose again. "I never want to see you near my wife."

George struggled to his feet and gripped his brother's shoulder. Giving him a smirk, he said, "It won't be for you to decide." Giving him a squeeze on the shoulder, he left his brother standing there, and walked out to his horse.

Will stood there and stared at the door his brother had just walked out of. Running a hand through his hair, he finally felt his anger leave, leaving his body drained. Walking back to the front of the barn, he reached his hand in to the stall, and laid a hand on Willow's nose. "What am I going to do Willow?"

He had seen a different kind of threat in the eyes of his younger brother and knew that George had something big going down. He just wasn't sure when or how it was going to go down. The barn door creaked open and Will jerked his head towards the noise. His face brightened a little when he saw Beth standing in the door, looking around for him.

"I'm over here Beth." He said and waited for her to reach him. Holding out his hand, he wrapped her in his arms, and pulled her close. Resting his head on the top of hers, he breathed a sigh of relief that she was safe in his arms.

Elizabeth tilted her head to look up into her husband's face and frowned. Running a finger along his jaw, she asked, "Will, are you alright? You look like you have seen a ghost."

He placed a kiss on her forehead and gave her a small smile. "I'm fine, Beth." He wasn't going to mention that his brother paid him a visit. "What are you doing out here?"

"You have been gone for a long time and I was wondering what was keeping you out here. Anna wanted you to come inside and tell her a bedtime story." She said and continued to search his face. There was something important that he wasn't telling her.

"I will be in shortly. I just need to finish a few things in here." He placed another kiss on her forehead and gently pushed her towards the door. Will shifted is feet when she reached the door and looked back at him. He lifted a hand and showed her to the door, breathing a sigh of relief when she turned back around and headed back to the house.

"Well, she is prettier than I thought she was. You love her, don't you?"

Spinning around, Will clenched his fist when he saw his younger brother again. "I thought you had left?"

George palmed his revolver and spun the cylinder, checking the bullets. "I was going to leave, but then I heard you talking to someone and decided to stick around for a while longer." He put his revolver back in the holster and looked up to meet his brother's wide eyes; he was staring at his holster. Laying a hand on his revolver, he said, "I'm not going to use it, Will."

"I never can tell with you. Leave my property before I have to throw you off myself." He said once the shock of seeing him with his gun had worn off. Taking a step forward, he watched his brother take a quick step back.

Throwing up his hands, George took another step backwards. "I'm leaving, but it won't be the last time you see me around. Keep that in mind."

Will watched him go for the second time that night. Once he heard the sound of hoof beats fade into the night, he walked back to the entrance of the barn, and stepped outside. Pulling the door shut, he latched it tight for the night, and headed back to the house.

Once inside, he hung up his hat, and kicked off his boots. Running a hand through his hair, he strolled through the house, and noticed that all the lights were off, except a low burning lamp in the kitchen. Turning the light all the way down, Will walked to Anna's room and peaked inside.

Jane and Anna were already both asleep and he was disappointed that he wasn't able to tell Anna her bedtime story. Gently closing the door, he then made his way to his bedroom, and quietly tip toed inside. Closing the door behind him, he quickly changed, and padded over to the bed.

Settling down on the edge of the bed, he let the events of the night swim through his mind. No matter what his brother had said tonight, he knew that it wouldn't be the last time he would see his face. He hadn't seen him since the shooting and now he was suddenly back in their lives. He is planning something and I wish I could figure out what it was. I need to keep my family safe.

A hand gently touched his back and he looked over his shoulder to see Elizabeth sleepily looking up at him. Crawling under the covers, he wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her to his chest. He rested a hand on her stomach, before placing a kiss on her hair. "Goodnight Beth."

Elizabeth placed her hand over his and whispered, "Goodnight Will."

The sun was just coming out the next day when Elizabeth opened her eyes. Turning on her side, she reached her hand over to her husband's side of the bed, but all she touched was the sheets. Sitting up in bed, she looked around, but didn't see Will anywhere in the room.

Swinging her legs over the side of the bed, Elizabeth slipped her feet into her slippers, and wrapped her dressing gown around her. Shuffling out to the kitchen, she frowned when she didn't see him out there either. Walking over to the other bedroom door, she peaked inside, and found that Anna and Jane were still asleep.

Closing the door, she walked back to their bedroom, and changed in to a day dress. Wrapping a shawl around her shoulders, she slipped her feet in to her boots, and stepped out on to the porch. Looking around, she decided that the best place to find her husband would be in the barn.

Walking across the yard, Elizabeth opened the barn door, and stepped inside. Letting her eyes adjust to the darkness, she called out. "Will are you in here?"

A noise sounded from other end of the barn and she strained her eyes to see a figure walking towards her. Her eyes went wide when she saw who it was. He looks just like Will. Elizabeth took a hasty step backwards when he reached a hand out for her.

"You are not getting away from me." He grabbed her wrist and twisted it behind her back. She tried to scream, but he put a hand over her mouth, and started dragging her out of the barn.